Bet on the NFLWith a little less than a week until Super Bowl XLV is played between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, speculation is reaching a fevered pitch.
Key players from both teams have been lost to injuries over the past season and playoffs, but both have also survived this far despite experiencing some losses and setbacks. But what will these football squads have to do to win?

For the Steelers to win, their defense will have to contain the Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Thankfully, the Pittsburgh team has one of the best defense coordinators in the league with Dick LeBeau, who is a master at dismantling the other team's offensive line. When it comes to offense, the Steelers will have to make up for the loss of center Maurkice Pouncey, whose ankle injury we reported on here and who will not be able to play in the game. QB Roethlisberger will be looking for a third Super Bowl victory in six years, however, so will be an experienced player leading the team.

The Packers are coming off of a near-loss to the Chicago Bears, a game in which Aaron Rodgers did not perform up to his full potential. If the Bears had not lost Jay Cutler early in the game, the story may have turned out quite differently. Despite the poor last performance, though, the Packers have a number of receivers to choose from, making their offense deadly everywhere on the field. Rodgers is also considered one of the top quarterbacks in the game right now, so his leadership will be a requirement if Green Bay hopes to beat the Steelers.

So in the end, the game will be decided by which QB is more effective at leading their offense to score the most touchdowns. Both teams excel in defense, and the Steelers have been in the big game three out of the last six years, including 2011. History seems to support the Steelers – especially as the Packers have not won a game in Dallas since 1989. But the Super Bowl odds still slightly favor Green Bay to win the game.